Barrel top grab mechanism



Oct. 13, 1953 Ic. DANIELS 2,655,278

BARREL TOP GRAB MECHANISM Filed Dec. 2l, 1950 2 Sheet's-Sheet l Oct. 13,k 1953 c. DANlELs 2,655,278

BARREL TOP GRAB MECHANISM Filed Dec. 21, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR. 4e 5 c. DAN/f1.5

Patented Oct. 13, 1953 BARREL TOP GRAB MECHANISM Lee C. Daniels, Harvey, Ill., assignor to Towmotor Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application December 21, 1950, Serial No. 203,401

6 Claims. l

This invention relates broadly to lift trucks and more specically to improvements in barrel grab mechanisms therefor.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a grab shoe actuating mechanism which is designed to position the movable shoes of the assembly into confronting relation with the circumferential wall of a barrel during the clamping operation thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide power multiplying linkage in the actuating mechanism for the movable shoes.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pivotal support for the grab mechanism to accommodate lateral movement thereof relative to the head of a barrel during the initial clamping operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lock to restrain pivotal movement of the grab mechanism after the clamping operation has been effected.

Another object of the invention is to provide a grab mechanism for a barrel or similar cylindrical body which will not obscure the operators View forwardly of the machine. Y

Another object of the invention is to provide a grab mechanism which may be attached to the elevating carriage of a lift truck without structural modification thereof.

Further objects of the invention reside in the provision of a grab mechanism which is efficient of operation, sturdy of structure, and free from the hazards attendant the manipulation of mechanisms for the same general purpose.

Other objects and advantages more or less ancillary to the foregoing, and the manner in which all the various objects are realized, will appear in the following description, which, considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, sets forth the preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a fragmentary portion of a lift truck embodying the invention Fig. 2 is a plan view of the device in its retracted position;

Fig. 3 is a front elevational View of the grab mechanism;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view of a fragmentary portion of the pivotal supporting structure; and

Fig. 5 is a plan view of thedevice in its extendedposition.

Referring rst to Fig. 1, the lift truck chosen Cil herein as exemplary of one of the environs within which the improved grab mechanism may be used comprises a body, I0 having drive wheels II thereon, a mast I2 on the forward end thereof, a slide I3 organized for vertical translation relative thereto, and a. carriage I4 mounted for independent movement on the slide. The carriage frame, which may be of any `conventional form, embodies generally a pair of horizontally disposed plates I5, vertical tie bars I6 on the forward face thereof, arms I1 on the opposed face of the plates constituting the supporting medium for the carriage elevating chains, and a horizontal plate I8 upon the upper ends of the bars I6.

The improved grab mechanism is supported for pivotal movement in a horizontal plane by a column I9 welded or otherwise secured upon a bracket 20 bolted to the lower carriage frame plate I5 and anchored adjacent its upper end in a collar 2| secured to the tie bars I6. The free end of the column is provided with a sleeve 22 mounted in wear bushings 23 which are restrained against axial movement by shoulders 24 and thrust washers 25. The sleeve supports a tubular guideway 26 of rectangular transverse section, having a slide 21 mounted for free reciprccative movement thereon. The guideway 26 is welded to the upper end of the sleeve and further supported by a bracket 28 affixed upon a pair of arms 29 which in turn are mounted on the sleeve adjacent the lower end thereof. The arms 29 are cross-drilled for the reception of a pin 30 forming the pivotal support for an arcuate shoe or jaw 3| designed for engagement with the barrel or other cylindrical body to be moved. The shoe is lined with a yieldable facing material 32 to assure retention of the barrel and avoid mutilation thereof during the clamping operation. The outer ends of the bracket 28 are provided with buffer plates 33 arranged for abutting engagement with the top of a barrel during the descent of the carriage and the initial operative adjustment of the grab mechanism.

. The upper face of the tube dening the guideway 26 supports a yoke 34 having a pin 35 therein constituting the fulcrum for a hydraulic cylinder 36 and piston 3l. The cylinder is drilled and tapped adjacent the ends thereof for the reception of hose couplings leading in the customary manner to a source of pressure fluid and a valve arranged for manipulation by the operator of the vehicle. The outer end of the piston rod is pivotally connected to a yoke 38 mounted on a rectangular tube 39 constituting a guideway The inner face of each arm is formed with:

a lug 45 (Figs. 2 and 5) having a pinAtherein.. for the pivotal support of a pair of links which in turn are fulcrumed on a pin 48f inztheiendfof a bellcrank 49. The bellcrarrltis mountedforrpiv.-

otal movement on a pin 50 retained in a channel l supported by gusset plates 52. welded to the inner wall of the tube 39. The other and longer arm of the bellcrank is drilled for the, reception.:`

of a pin 53 supported in openings in a pair of links' 515.` disposed in. straddled rela-tionwith. the armand pivoted through a pin S75-upon a bracket 56'Weldedtol thelower face of thel guidewaf,r housing 26g.

The s1eeve.22.,` asK will be. .seen infFigs; l and 4, iSiprovided-,with a col1ar.5l.having` a vertical groove. 58A in thecircumferential face thereof whichis engaged by theeccentric portion of a cam 59f-mounted on a shaft BUY-journalled in bearings Bi on the plate I8-, The eccentric portionof J thev oamis rotativelyurgedagainst the collar 5? by a helical spring-62 mounted-on the shaft S with: the centralportion thereof attached theretothrough a pin...63.-anditheends thereof attached to the plate I8. The shaft is provided With-arr upwardly directed-lever 64 having a cord 65 thereon Aleading-tothe instrument panelv of the. y.vehicle for manipulation. by the operator. When theleveris drawn rearwardly, the shaft will rotate and' retract, thefeccentric portion,- of the cam from/the-groovefSf-in the collarand thus permit the grab assembly tosw-.ingdaterally aboutthe column 19. As this. occurs.. however, the springlZ ris wound upon itself under .the inuence ofthe pin 63fin-the1-shaft. .Hence, when the cordlE-.is released, the camiwill trackfagainst the face of thecollar 5-'1 under the torsionaleffort vof the spring: .untill the groove- 58 is brought into alignmentx therewith.A As this? occurs; fthe cam Will'be forced therein and'. thegrab assembly locked Vagainst 'rotative movement.I

In. operation the valve' controlling? the pressure fluidY is first adjustedh to the position that efvfects'the distention of. the piston and'.y the con sequentfoutw'ard"movement of lthe `shoes or jaws '42." As-thel slide 21 moves outwardly,f-the' -links 54 will effectthe rotative movement of the'bellcranks. 491which .in turn will move the runners `lil'and jaws 42T laterally. The operator ofthe vehicle will' then elevaterthe carriage, vif necessary, and maneuver the vehicle until' the jaw 3| isdisposed inconfronting relation with the band or drum and the jaws 42 overhang the head thereof. Thereafter'theoperator will lower the carriage until the buffer plates or stopsy 33 engage the barrel and as a final operation, will adjust 'the pressureiiuid valve to eect the retractiOnOthepiston and thus cause the convergent movementv of the jaws into clamping engagement with the barrel. When the drum or barrel to be moved-is disposedin angular relation to: the

.medial axis of the vehicle, or when it is desired toirelease theharrel` at a point remote from the center line of; the machine, the: operator may unlatch the cam and collar assen'ibly.and;swing the grab assembly about the column I9 until the jaws or barrel as the case may be, are disposed in the requisite position.

From the foregoing it will be recognized that the combined lateral and inward movement of the jaws will accommodate a wide range of barrels or drums of different size, that the clamping actionthereof mayi'be effected with ease and dispatch, and that the-clamping effort of the outer jaws will be multiplied through the ratio of the bellcrank arms and the action of the linkage.,

Although the foregoing description is necessari-ly.of-;a detailed-character, in order that the I invention lmay be completely set forth, it is to be understood vthat the specific terminology is not intended-tobe restrictive or confining. and that various rearrangements of parts and modificationsiof detail may be resorted to without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention as: herein claimed. Y

I claimry l. In a lift truck embodying. a vertically-move.- able carriage,v a barrel grab mechanismrtherefor comprising a guideway mounted on the carriage for pivotal movement in :a 'horizontal pla-nwe. grab shoe supported' bytthercarriage andmuvabe with said guideway, a plunger in said-guideway.- a hydraulic cylinder mounted-,onf said; guidewafy; a pistontherein attachedgto .Said plungeraforireciprocative movementthereimna secondguideway mounted on the. end'of-said plungelf ingnormal relation thereto, sliderzbars therein, 'armssdepending therefrom, grabshoes. pivotally. mountf ed thereon, bellcranksy fulcrumed on saidisecond'f named guideway, links intermediate nsaidslide bars and the shorter ends of said bellcranksg'and links intermediate the; othernendsof -saidzfbellcranks'and the 'Erst-named' guideway, said links and said vbellcranirs` being arranged; to-eiect-the convergent and divergent movement-ofthe grab shoesA 0n said'arms toward -and away frdmf. .the first-named, grabi shoe during theV reciprocative movement of-'said plunger.

2. In combination-withaa lift `tri'icirhavinga vertically movable carriage thereon, a barrel grab meohanismtherefor: comprising-:a ,-guideway mounted on; the carriagesinA normal relationto the outer face thereof, a plunger supported there.- by, a grab. shoe'subjacentsaidi guideway; `a cylindersupported by said guideway, a pistonztherein=conneotedzto said plunger; a second guideway mounted onxsaid Vplunger' inl normal vrelation thereto. arms. supportedI for sliding movement toward andaway' from each other in said'second guideway, grab shoes thereon,c levers'sup'- ported by said guideways and pivotalA connec- `tions.. therefor anchored to the first-named guideway to effect the convergent and-divergent movement of` said. arms relative to the -rstnamed grab shoe during the reciprocative` movement of said plunger.

3. A barrelxgrab mechanism for a liftftruck having a vertically movabley carriage vthereon comprising a vertically disposed columnv mountedv on the carriage, a sleeve pivoted thereon, a latch mechanism to arrest the pivotal movement of the sleeve, a grab shoe mounted on said sleeve, a guideway mounted on said sleeve-in normal relation thereto,` buffer plates secured tof-said sleeve subjacent said guideway to arrest'the descent of the carriage when engagedfwithf-a barrel, a load-carrying'plungersupportecr by` said guideway, a .hydraulic cylinder supported=bythe guideway, a piston thereinlrconnectedl tof'said plunger, a second guideway supported on the free end of the plunger, arms supported for sliding movement thereon, grab shoes carried by said arms, bellcranks pivoted on the second guideway, operative connections between said arms and said bellcranks, and links pivotally connected to said bellcranks and one of the members mounted on the sleeve whereby distention of the piston and plunger will effect simultaneous distention of said arms.

4. In a lift truck embodying a vertically movable carriage, a barrel grab therefor comprising an arm mounted on the carriage in normal relation to the face thereof, a grab shoe supported by the carriage, a slide on said arm, a crosshead on the free end thereof, slide bars thereon, grab shoe supported thereby, hydraulic means for reciprocating said slide, and linkage coupled with said slide bars and said cross head and said arm for moving the last-named shoes convergently and divergently toward and away from the first-named grab shoe during the reciprocation of said slide.

5. In a lift truck embodying a vertically movable carriage, a barrel grab mechanism therefor comprising a grab shoe mounted on the carriage an arm mounted on the carriage in normal relation to the face thereof, a hydraulically-operated slide thereon, a crosshead on said slide, bars guided thereon, grab shoes supported by said bars, and means connected to the bars, the crosshead and said arm for moving the last-named grab shoes convergently and divergently toward and away from the first-named shoe simultaneous with the movement of said slide.

6. In a lift truck embodying a vertically movable carriage, a barrel grab mechanism therefor comprising a column mounted on said carriage in vertical relation therewith, a sleeve mounted for pivotal movement thereon, a collar on said sleeve having a notch in the circumferential edge thereof, a cam mounted on the carriage and arranged for engagement in said notch, a spring urging said cam against the circumferential edge of said collar, a lever operatively connected to said cam for the actuation thereof, a grab shoe mounted on said sleeve, a guideway mounted on said sleeve in normal relation thereto, stop plates to delimit the descent of the carriage mounted on said sleeve below said guideway, and above said grab shoe, a slide mounted in said guideway, a hydraulic cylinder supported on the guideway, a piston therein connected to said slide, a crosshead on said slide constituting a second guideway, arms mounted for sliding movement in said crosshead, grab shoes mounted on depending end portions thereof, bellcranks mounted on said crosshead, links connecting one end of said bellcranks with said arms, and links connecting the other end of said bellcranks to said arms whereby the last-named shoes will be moved transaxial said slide during thetranslation thereof.

LEE C. DANIELS.

vReferences Cited in the flle of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 228,557 Pike June 8, 1880 2,282,608 Rempel May 12, 1942 2,340,812 Koob Feb. 1, 1944 2,447,300 Williams Aug. 17, 1948 2,473,410 Bevevno June 14, 1949 2,500,055 Baker Mar. 7, 1950 2,545,021 Coupland et al. Mar. 13, 1951 2,574,131 Steinbrecher Nov. 6, 1951 2,604,220 Frischmann July 22, 1952 

